By definition, dark comedies, also known as black comedies, make light of or poke fun at a serious or taboo situation. Black comedies oftentimes possess a more serious subject matter, such as death or grievance, but unlike dramatic films, they are satirical and are not meant to be taken seriously. Since the obvious has already been stated, here is a list of my favorite dark comedies that I recommend.
*Beware of spoilers.*
1. "Heathers" (1988)
This cult classic dark comedy drama film features a young Winona Ryder and Christian Slater as high school outsiders and a Bonnie and Clyde-esque couple. Veronica (Ryder) recently joins a clique of the most popular girls at school who, ironically, are all named Heather. Veronica immediately sees past the leader Heather Chandler's shallowness and befriends the reckless yet tempting J.D. (Slater). Soon after a horrific prank goes wrong, Heather Chandler is left dead in her bedroom and the two fake her death as a suicide. The film only gets better as the couple's antics do not stop here. It's seriously worth a watch.
2. "Death Becomes Her" (1992)
One of my all-time favorites, this film stars Meryl Streep as a silver screen actress, Goldie Hawn as an aspiring writer, and Bruce Willis as a renowned Beverly Hills plastic surgeon. Madeline (Streep) and Helen (Hawn) are friends turned rivals in their constant battle to win the affection of Ernest (Willis). Main features of the film include a lustful love triangle, revenge, murder, and the battle to gain eternal youth and beauty.
3. "To Die For" (1995)
This mocumentary style comedy centers around the deranged yet beautiful newlywed Suzanne Stone (Nicole Kidman) and the lengths she takes to receive her 15 minutes of fame and recognition. Her vapid and narcissistic character reminds me of Amy Dunne from "Gone Girl." For a more in-depth review of the film, read my article here.
4. "Jawbreaker" (1999)
Similar to "Heathers," this film involves an accidental death by a group of envied and popular high school girls. "Heathers" and "Jawbreaker" have even been compared to "Mean Girls" as inspiration for the cult film loved by many.
5. "Drop Dead Gorgeous" (1999)
Also shot in mocumentary style, this film makes fun of the gruesome lengths girls go to in order to win a beauty pageant. Set in a small town in Minnesota, Kirsten Dunst's hilarious performance as a beauty pageant contestant is one to watch.
6. "American Beauty" (1999)
The critically acclaimed Academy Award winning film starring Kevin Spacey tells a story of a middle-aged man going through a mid-life crisis. The film is a satire of the average middle class American lifestyle and touches on feelings of dissatisfaction in the journey of one's self-fulfillment.
7. "Fight Club" (1999)
David Fincher's cult drama film has more serious and dark overtones than the other films on this list, but it still possesses dark satirical elements. Based on Chuck Palahniuk's novel of the same name, "Fight Club" is a film geared toward a predominately white-collar male population who are discontent with their lives. This action-packed film has strong character development and is well-liked by many.
8. "Pretty Persuasion" (2005)
This satirical film is about a privileged private schoolgirl that accuses her teacher of sexual harassment.
9. "Burn After Reading" (2008)
This ridiculous spy comedy features a strong ensemble cast of George Clooney, John Malkovich, Frances Mcdormand, Tilda Swinton, and Brad Pitt. The film goes through a series of complicated events after a CIA disc is taken into the wrong hands.
10. "Jennifer's Body" (2009)
When I first saw this movie, I honestly thought it was a poorly made horror movie about a popular and highly sought after high school girl turned vicious demon. It wasn't until after seeing it for the first time that I found out it was a dark supernatural comedy from a Megan Fox interview. If you are a Megan Fox fan, this is seriously a must-see.
11. "Birdman" (2014)
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's award-winning film is one of my all-time favorite movies. Michael Keaton stars as a washed up superhero Hollywood star who tries to reinvent himself on Broadway. The film's stylistic elements help serve to make it stand out and the dialogue makes the film realistic.
